EDITOR RESPONDS TO LTE FROM MAYOR MUMPOWER

In a June 23, 2004, news story written by Xpress Reporter Brian Sarzynski,
we reported that Council member Mumpower had recounted an incident that
occurred as he was driven through an Asheville public housing complex by
former City Council member and retired police officer Herb Watts. According
to our news story, "Watts rolled down the driver's side window, asked for 'a
dime,' and 'the guy dropped a rock in his hand, Herb handed it to me, and
Herb then drove off without paying. I was looking over my shoulder waiting
for the gunfire.'

"Later that evening, said Mumpower, he drove downtown and turned the
rock over to the Asheville Police Department. According to a 'found
property report' submitted at 3:25 a.m. on May 15, '1 tan rock = 1g.
[was] found in the possession of Vice Mayor Carl Mumpower.' The report
continues: 'Dr. Mumpower stated that he got the tan rock from Lee
Walker Heights. Dr. Mumpower requests testing for controlled substance.'

"The point of the episode,' said Mumpower, 'is to illustrate how
casual the drug dealers are. They have no natural enemies."